Making My First Impression — Free ESL lesson plan

Lesson plan

Objectives

I can state my name, age, country, and favorite hobby using 'to be' and 'like'.
I can ask basic questions to learn personal details about others.
I can use correct word stress in three-syllable nationality and hobby words.
I can respond to common greetings with culturally appropriate phrases.

Materials

Student name tags or sticky notes
Printed vocabulary flashcards with hobbies
World map or digital globe
Audio recording of the reading passage
Stopwatch or timer for speaking activities
Whiteboard and multi-colored markers

Warm-up

The teacher enters the room and greets students with a high-five or wave. Students are given a blank name tag and must write their name and one thing they like (e.g., 'Leo - Video games'). Students stand up and walk around the room for 3 minutes, greeting at least four classmates by saying 'Hi, I'm [Name]. I like [Hobby]. Nice to meet you!'

Presentation

The teacher uses the whiteboard to present the 'Introduction Formula': Name + Age + Origin + Hobby. Example: 'I am Sarah. I am 14. I am from Brazil. I like football.' Teacher highlights the verb 'to be' (I am, You are, He/She is) and the verb 'to like' for hobbies. The teacher then models 'Wh-' questions: 'What is your name?', 'Where are you from?', 'How old are you?'. Show a photo of a famous celebrity and have the class 'introduce' that person using the target structures.

Guided practice

Students receive the vocabulary list and grammar worksheet. First, they participate in a choral drill, repeating 'I am from...' and 'I like...' phrases after the teacher to perfect rhythm. Then, they complete a 'Find Someone Who' grid where they must ask classmates 'Do you like [hobby]?' or 'Are you [age]?' to fill in the boxes. The teacher monitors for correct verb usage and provides immediate, gentle correction.

Freer practice

Students are placed in small groups of three. They are given 'Secret Identity' cards (e.g., a famous singer, a superhero, or a professional athlete). They must introduce themselves as that character without saying the character's name. Other students must listen to the age, country, and hobbies and guess who the person is. This encourages active listening and creative use of the target language.

Wrap-up

The teacher asks the students to write one new thing they learned about a classmate on a post-it note and stick it to the 'Friendship Wall'. The teacher then asks the reflection prompt: 'What is the most important thing to say when you meet someone for the first time?'

Welcome to International Summer Camp

Hello! My name is Marco and I am very happy to be here at the International Summer Camp. This is my first time in London and everything is very exciting. I am fourteen years old and I am from Italy. I live in a beautiful city called Florence. In Florence, many people visit the museums, but I prefer the parks because I love sports. At home, I live with my mother, my father, and my younger sister, Giulia. My favorite hobby is playing basketball. I play every Tuesday and Thursday after school. I also like listening to music. My favorite singer is Taylor Swift because her songs are very catchy. I want to learn English because I want to travel to many different countries in the future. I want to go to the United States and Japan. Learning a new language is hard, but it is also very fun because I can talk to people from all over the world. There are many other students here at the camp. My new friend is Clara. Clara is fifteen years old and she is from France. She is very tall and very friendly. She doesn't like basketball, but she loves swimming. We go to the cafeteria together every morning for breakfast. We usually eat cereal and fruit. Clara wants to be a doctor when she grows up, and I want to be an engineer. Today, we have many activities. In the morning, we have English class. In the afternoon, we have football practice or art class. I choose football because it is my second favorite sport. My teacher is Mr. Thompson. He is from Australia. He is a very funny person and he speaks very fast. Sometimes I don't understand everything, but he helps me. I think this summer will be the best summer of my life. I hope to make many more friends today. What about you? What do you like to do? Where are you from? I want to know your story too. Let's have a great time at camp together and learn a lot of English!

Comprehension

What is the boy's name?
Answer: The boy's name is Marco.
How old is Marco?
Answer: He is fourteen years old.
Where is Marco from?
Answer: He is from Italy.
What is Marco's favorite hobby?
Answer: His favorite hobby is basketball.
Who is Clara and where is she from?
Answer: Clara is Marco's new friend and she is from France.
Does Clara like basketball?
Answer: No, she doesn't like basketball; she loves swimming.
What does Marco want to be in the future?
Answer: He wants to be an engineer.
Where is the teacher, Mr. Thompson, from?
Answer: He is from Australia.

Grammar — Verb 'To Be' and Present Simple 'Like'

Use 'am/is/are' to talk about names, ages, and origins. Use 'like' or 'likes' to talk about hobbies. Remember: 'I am', 'You are', 'He/She is'. For hobbies: 'I like', but 'He likes' (add an -s).

I ___ (be) fifteen years old.
Answer: am
She ___ (be) from Brazil.
Answer: is
They ___ (be) my friends.
Answer: are
My favorite hobby ___ (be) swimming.
Answer: is
I ___ (like) video games.
Answer: like
He ___ (like) playing guitar.
Answer: likes
We ___ (be) students at this school.
Answer: are
Where ___ (be) you from?
Answer: are
What ___ (be) your name?
Answer: is
She ___ (like) traveling to new cities.
Answer: likes

Pronunciation

Focus: Word Stress in Nationalities and Hobbies

Minimal pairs

Ship / Sheep
Sit / Seat
Fill / Feel
It / Eat
Fit / Feet
Bit / Beat

Drill

Teacher models the 'Ooo' (strong-weak-weak) pattern for three-syllable words. Students clap on the stressed syllable. Example: CA-na-da, BI-cy-cle, FO-tograph. Then practice the 'oOo' pattern: i-TA-ly, com-PU-ter, bra-ZI-lian. Sentences: 1. I am from ITA-ly. 2. I like playing VI-deo games. 3. She is CA-na-dian.

Conversation — Two students meet at the lockers on the first day of a new international school.

Role A

You are a new student from South Korea. You are 15. You are shy but want to make friends. You love K-Pop and drawing. Goal: Introduce yourself and ask about the school cafeteria.

Role B

You are a local student who has been at this school for 3 years. You are 16. You are very helpful and talkative. You love football and movies. Goal: Welcome the new student and offer to show them around.

Useful phrases

Hi, is this seat taken?
Nice to meet you!
Where are you from originally?
I'm new here.
What do you like to do for fun?
That's cool!
My name is...
Do you want to see the library?

Introduction Portfolio

Create a 'Profile Poster' with your photo, name, age, and 3 hobbies.
Write 5 sentences about your best friend using 'He' or 'She' correctly.
Record a 30-second audio clip on your phone introducing yourself and send it to the teacher.
Draw a map of your country and label 3 cities in English.
Find 5 English words for hobbies that were not used in class and write their definitions.

Vocabulary

Hobby: An activity you do for fun in your free time; "My favorite hobby is drawing."
Student: A person who is studying at a school; "I am a student at the local high school."
Country: An area of land that has its own government (like Italy or Japan); "Which country are you from?"
Favorite: The one you like the most; "Pizza is my favorite food."
Friendly: Kind and pleasant to other people; "Our new classmate is very friendly."
Exciting: Something that makes you feel very happy and active; "The football match was very exciting."
Together: With another person or people; "We study English together."
Travel: To go from one place to another; "I want to travel to Spain next summer."
Meet: To see and talk to someone for the first time; "It is nice to meet you."
Practice: Doing an activity regularly to get better at it; "I have piano practice at 5 PM."
Catchy: Easy to remember (usually music); "The song is very catchy."
Future: The time that will come after now; "I want to be a pilot in the future."

Activities

Speed Greeting · 12 minutes
Place chairs in two rows facing each other. Students sit opposite a partner. They have 90 seconds to introduce themselves and find one thing in common. When the timer rings, one row moves down one seat. Repeat until everyone has met.
The Interviewer · 12 minutes
In pairs, one student acts as a famous journalist and the other as a new student. The journalist must ask 5 questions to get 'the story'. Then they swap roles. Students must take notes to present their partner to the class later.
Introduction Ball Toss · 12 minutes
Students stand in a circle. One student holds a soft ball, says a fact about themselves ('I like basketball'), and tosses the ball to another student. That student must repeat the previous student's fact ('He likes basketball') and then say their own ('I like dancing').

✈️Making My First Impression